A logo for Carthage MAGI-Lab featuring a black and white image of a tophat with flames rising in red, and text indicating a focus on magic, attentional guidance, and ichnochirography.

MAGI Lab

The Magic, Attentional Guidance, and Ichnochirography Laboratory applies a diverse set of qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand the cognitive basis of the experience of magic and our impressive ability to read messy, handwritten words. We coined the term ichnochirography. “Chirography” is the study of the process of handwriting. “Ichno” is a Greek prefix denoting the static trace. Therefore, we study the static trace that is left over from chirography. The laboratory is staffed exclusively by an impressive group of undergraduate researchers.

A man with short dark hair, smiling with slightly crooked teeth, wearing a black suit and a striped tie, against a plain light background.

Anthony Barnhart, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Tony Barnhart is an Associate Professor of Psychological Science at Carthage College, where he has been employed since 2015. He received his BA in Psychology from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 2004 and his Ph.D. from Arizona State University in 2013. His research interests fall in the domains of word perception, attention, and the science of magic.

2026-2027 Lab Members

  • Hailey Hoelzer

    Hailey is a psychology major and French minor at Carthage College. In the MAGI Lab, she is researching the perception of handwritten words. Outside of class, she is a Peer Tutor and is involved with the Carthage Philharmonic Orchestra, French Club, and Psi Chi. After graduating, she is considering studying speech pathology.

  • Magdalen Kolar

    Magdalen is a psychology and secondary education double major with a dance minor. In the MAGI Lab, she assists with research comparing how AI and human participants respond to and explain verbal magic tricks. After graduating from Carthage College, she plans to teach psychology at the high school level.

  • Ava Putnam

    Ava is a psychology major with a Spanish minor and a member of the Carthage Philharmonic Orchestra. In the MAGI Lab, she is researching the perception of handwritten words. After Carthage, she plans to pursue a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology.

  • Laurel Brown

  • Alasdair Ladd

  • Joy McMillan

The members of the MAGI Lab stand around a baby grand piano in the lavishly adorned lobby of a hotel.

Yes, the MAGI Lab is always that hip.

MAGI Lab Alumni

Jessica Buhmann Alison Mackey Aleksandra Steinert Chelsea Breyer Marissa Vavra Flynn Castellanos
Isabel Montoya Mandy Ehlert Brandi Tennesen Anna Robertson Sabina Redzic Maggie Haberman
Michael Von Borstel Robin Hill Christina Dodd Cheyenne Duckert Gunnar Goetz Michaela Prall
Micala Giammarino Lizzie Wenzel Noah Griser Megan Hudecek Shelby Wilson Emily Furmanek
Madison Gliosci Oliver Duffy Dillon Krupa Matt Schuler Alyssa Ruediger Olivia Krahn-Bockhop
Lexington Fitzpatrick Jaime Utter Rheanna Weaver Chad Bolman Jessica Sendef Kaitlyn Richardson
Tailyn Ludwiczak Bennett Shebesta Anthony Ortigoza Ashley Lundell John Hamer Caitlin Powers
Jamie Serena Sara Sobczyk Sarah Tuchel Luke Ehlert Camrin Nyara Ava Darling
Grace Miller Lily Rende Tara Schaalma Ida Mathiassen Jazzmyn Guzman